Kelsey Klopfenstein, a music performance major, has been named the 2011-2012 Department of Music Presser Scholar. This prestigious recognition is presented each year to an outstanding senior in the Department of Music. Bradley President Joanne Glasser presented Klopfenstien with the award during a public recognition ceremony Nov. 30.

Klopfenstein was also the winner of the 2011 - 2012 Bradley Symphony Orchestra Concerto-Aria Competition, held Nov. 18.

A senior violinist, Klopfenstein is a performing member of the Bradley String Chamber Music Ensemble, which will perform Saturday, Dec. 3, under the direction of Marcia Henry Liebenow. The 3:00 p.m. concert will be presented at the Dingeldine Music Center on the Bradley campus. The recital will feature violinists Jenna Ferdon, Tai Fraction, Kelsey Klopfenstein, Caleb Mackinder, Brianna Smith, and Anna Wilks, violists Sarah Igram, Alyssa Przygoda, and Hannah Salazar and cellist Britney Whiting.

"There will be several really good groups," Klopfenstein said. "All the string players at Bradley are very well-rounded musicians."

Klopfenstein will perform a duet with senior violist, Hannah Salazar. This portion of the recital holds a special meaning for the two performers, as they grew up as close friends and have played together for many years.

"This will be my last performance in college with Hannah, even though I'm sure we will be playing together after graduation at some point," Klopfenstein said. "We have the same desires to reach the audience and to perform well together and interact with each other well during the performance."

The duet, featuring "Three Madrigals" by Bohuslave Martinu, will give equal voice to both instruments, according to Klopfenstein. "It's very well balanced in terms of difficulty for the violin and the viola, so it's a good combination of talent," she said.

Other pieces to be performed are Antonin Dvorak's "Terzetto, Op. 74," Alexander Glazunov's "String Quartet in D minor, Op. 70" as well as works by Georg Philipp Telemann and Karl Stamitz.

"There will be a high quality of string playing and [the recital] will be entertaining, both musically and personally," Klopfenstein said. "We like to have fun. Everyone should come, because it's going to be great!"